Perceived Severity of HPV and Related Cancers (2011)
Undergraduates: Lauren Brown, T. Brown, M. Casarrubias, S.Castillo, D. Egbulem, R. Gordon, A. Majors, C. Rekuc M. Chioke, S. Massie, MPH
Faculty Advisor: Tamera Coyne-Beasley
Department: Biology
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection. HPV is the most common STI and it can infect both males and females. HPV can infect the genital areas, as well as the mouth and throat through genital contact. Often there are no symptoms and the infection may be transmitted from partner to partner with no knowledge of the disease. The infection can cause genital warts, cervical cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer. The HPV vaccines work to prevent cancers and other health problems caused by HPV. Gardasil, the most common vaccine for HPV, can be given to males or females ages 9 through 26. Gardasil is given in three doses, the second dose 1-2 months after the first, and the third dose 6 months after the first. The vaccine is used to prevent HPV related infections, but it is not used as a treatment for such infections. This study demonstrates the knowledge of parents of boys aged 9-21 regarding the HPV and the HPV vaccine. Each parent was given a survey to better understand their knowledge of HPV, specifically asking what their perceptions were on the severity of HPV and related cancers. The survey was based on the Health Belief Model, in that health behavior is influenced by personal belief and perceptions of a disease, including the strategies available to decrease its occurrence. After surveying 173 respondents we found that a majority of the respondents believed that the vaccine would have a lot of protection against genital warts and a little protection against anal cancer. Also a majority of the parents did not worry at all about their son getting genital warts, anal cancer, penile cancer or oropharyngeal cancer, but the majority believed that it would affect their son’s life a lot if he got genital warts, anal cancer, penile cancer or oropharyngeal cancer. In conclusion, a majority of parents did believe that HPV and related cancers are severe, and would significantly affect their son’s life.